Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said conditions have not been met which would trigger a poll on the reunification of Ireland despite the result of Thursday's vote on Europe.

Sinn Fein had called for voters to be given a say on the issue after Northern Ireland rejected leaving the EU - with 55.8% supporting Remain - saying it would be a “democratic imperative”.

But speaking on Radio Ulster on Saturday, Villiers - who supported the Leave campaign - said the circumstances under which such a poll would be carried out were not in place.

She said: "The Good Friday Agreement sets out the conditions under which I am required to call for a border poll - those are when I believe that there's a reasonable likelihood that there would be a majority for a united Ireland.

"There's nothing to indicate that that would be the case - quite the contrary, the research and opinion polls have tended all to make it very clear that the majority in Northern Ireland support the political settlement under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and hence Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom."

The Irish Parliament will be recalled tomorrow to discuss the impact of Brexit on the Republic of Ireland.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and David Cameron are reported to have spoken by phone in the wake of the vote, with agreement that there would be no interruption to working with Northern Ireland and immediate discussions will be held on issues like the common travel area and border.

Kenny said the Irish government has a contingency plan in place following the Leave vote in the UK.

He said: "I want to assure the Irish public that we have prepared to the greatest extent possible for this eventuality.

"There will be no immediate change to the free flow of people, goods and services between our islands."

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK which shares a border with an EU country.

In the wake of the Brexit vote, there was speculation border controls would have to be reintroduced – but Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster has insisted a “hard border” would not be required.

A surge in interest in applying for an Irish passport has also been reported.

Under the Good Friday deal anyone born in Ireland – north or south of the border – can claim a passport from the Republic, which would mean membership of the EU even if the UK has left.